Fall 2026

Introduction to Applied Geophysics

Introduction to applied geophysics covering seismic, electrical, gravity, and magnetics methods with modeling and field procedures.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 Dante Fratta4.0/5Eva Golos

Summary

1 / 6

Reviewers describe the course as difficult but note that students learn a significant amount from the instruction.

Grade history

↗
average GPA
letter grades
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AB
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All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

MATH 222 and (PHYSICS 202, 208, 248, orE M A 202), graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students

GEOSCI/GLE 594 used by

“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree

Professors

Fall 2026

Dante Fratta

/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.67/5 from 12 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

For this course: 5.0/5 raw quality · 2.7/5 difficulty · 3 reviews

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

Dante Fratta is described as caring and engaging, with well-designed, step-by-step courses that make the material interesting. Reviewers note that while the work is difficult, students learn significantly, and his flexible, reasonable grading style supports this growth.

One early review simply characterizes Fratta's course as great, providing minimal specific detail beyond a high quality rating.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2022: 3.50 GPA, 83.3% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.71 GPA, 85.7% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.44 GPA, 50.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.38 GPA, 75.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.71 GPA, 85.7% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.44 GPA, 50.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

DANTE FRATTA is recorded teaching in Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2024, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

EVA GOLOS is recorded teaching in Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Fall 2026

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
LEC 001Classroom Instruction9 / 700
LEC 001Classroom Instruction1 / 700

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.

Meeting source records
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Student experience

the class

Dante Fratta's course is highly rated for its engaging content and reasonable grading, though some students find the material difficult.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.38 GPA, 75.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.71 GPA, 85.7% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.44 GPA, 50.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Reviewers describe the course as difficult but note that students learn a significant amount from the instruction.

Students appreciate the step-by-step course design and flexible testing, finding the instruction interesting despite a minor accent.

Topics

  • Seismic methods
  • Electrical, gravity, and magnetics methods
  • Modeling and field procedures

Skills

  • Applied geophysics methods
  • Geophysical modeling and field procedures

Grades

Latest available · Fall 2025— not enough history to project Fall 2026.

average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
Instructor

Grade distribution · % of letter grades

A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

Grades over time

Through Fall 2025

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Not enough comparable courses for Fall 2026 in UW–Madison.

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

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Selected offering source records
GEOSCI/GLE 594 · Fall 2026

Introduction to Applied Geophysics

Recorded 2026-09-07
GEOSCI/GLE 594 · Fall 2026

Introduction to Applied Geophysics

Recorded 2026-09-07
Raw records
[
  {
    "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4",
    "semester": "1272",
    "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1272:418:019542",
    "course_id": "GEOSCI/GLE 594",
    "course_uid": "course_1a52ab5f7d05824d6e0a5e52",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "019542",
    "source_subject_id": "418",
    "title": "Introduction to Applied Geophysics",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall"
  },
  {
    "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4",
    "semester": "1272",
    "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1272:420:019542",
    "course_id": "GEOSCI/GLE 594",
    "course_uid": "course_1a52ab5f7d05824d6e0a5e52",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "019542",
    "source_subject_id": "420",
    "title": "Introduction to Applied Geophysics",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall"
  }
]
Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews
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Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-09-07

Download the original dataset
Model outputs & technical records
nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4
LLM outputs across runs
Download part 1
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Download part 1
Model & dataset provenance
{
  "model": "nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4",
  "model_revision": "1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5",
  "task_version": "14",
  "output_id": "27fc06d5d1dfd3847ca459e2eea5bc1fb0cd40857af983a61e40d86323f0232c",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}